Redeemed Christian Church of God

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a Pentecostal megachurch and denomination founded in Lagos, Nigeria. The General overseer (most senior pastor) is Enoch Adeboye, ordained in 1981. The church in Lagos has an average church attendance of 100,000.[1]

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationPentecostal
TheologyEvangelical
GovernanceEnoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer (1981–Date)
RegionWorldwide
FounderJosiah Akindayomi
Origin1952
Lagos, Nigeria
1-5 Redemption Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos (formerly 1a, Cemetery Street).
Members5 million members
Official websiterccg.org

History

The RCCG was founded in 1952 by Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi (1909–1980) following his involvement in other churches.[2][3] Rev. Akindayomi chose Enoch Adejare Adeboye as the next General overseer. Enoch Adeboye was a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, as at the time he joined the church in 1973. Adeboye initially became one of the interpreters translating Akindayomi's sermons from Yoruba to English. He was ordained a pastor of the church in 1975, and his appointment as leader (General overseer) of the church was formalized by the posthumous reading of Akindayomi's sealed pronouncement. In 1990, Redeemed Christian Church of God Bible School was founded.[4]

In 1981, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye became the General Overseer of the Church. In 1983, the land for the Redemption Camp in Mowe was purchased. In 1988, a students’ body known as the Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) was established. It is the youth wing of the church concentrated within tertiary institutions of learning in the country. In 1990, Christ the Redeemer’s Friends Universal (CRFU), was established to garner financial and human resources from the very wealthy in the society.[5] In 2005, Redeemer's University was established.

Andrew Rice, writing in The New York Times, calls the RCCG "one of [Africa's] most vigorously expansionary religious movements, a homegrown Pentecostal denomination that is crusading to become a global faith".[6] The church's leaders preach that in the future "In every household there will be at least one member of Redeemed Christian Church of God in the whole world."[6][7]

In 2008, it had 14,000 churches and 5 million members in Nigeria, in 80 countries. [8]

The international church is structured in different areas throughout the world.[9] The local churches are now grouped into regions, with 25 Regions in Nigeria. It is also organised throughout most of the world. Notable special spiritual programs are the Holy Ghost Service which holds on first Friday of every month in Nigeria. Then, the annual Holy Ghost Convention(August) and the Holy Ghost Congress (December) in Nigeria and beyond with diverse schedules.

In 2020, the Lagos Church had 50,000 people. [10]

Beliefs

The official RCCG website outlines its beliefs in the Bible and the Holy Trinity, that the Devil exists, that God formed man in his image, in repentance, in cleansing from sins by God's grace, in sanctification, water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, restitution and that it is possible for God to heal without medicine (by His divine intervention e.g. through prayer). The church is a strong advocate of peace and holiness ("Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 - KJV). The church forbids "worldliness" (such as reveling and lewd dancing) and rebellion against church authority. The church is also against debt to finance either the church or its activities. It encourages abstention from all evil and reverence to parents and constituted authorities.[11]

See also

References
  1. Warren Bird, World megachurches, Leadership Network, USA, retrieved August 21, 2016
  2. Ruth Marshall, Political Spiritualities: The Pentecostal Revolution in Nigeria, University of Chicago Press, USA, 2009, page 74
  3. Nimi Wariboko, Nigerian Pentecostalism, Boydell & Brewer, USA, 2014, page 57
  4. Laurent Fourchard, André Mary et René Otayek, Entreprises religieuses transnationales en Afrique de l'Ouest, Karthala Editions, France, 2005, page 343
  5. Asonzeh F.-K. Ukah (2005). "Globalisation of Pentecostalism in Africa: evidence from the Redeemed Christian church of God (Rccg), Nigeria". IFRA-Nigeria French Institute for Research in Africa, Nigeria | Institut français de recherche en Afrique, Nigeria. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  6. Rice, Andrew (12 April 2009). "Mission from Africa". New York Times. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  7. Rollins, Betty (8 January 2010). "Reverse Missionaries". PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  8. Stephen M. Cherry, Helen Rose Ebaugh, Global Religious Movements Across Borders: Sacred Service, Routledge, USA, 2016, p. 35
  9. Donald E. Miller, Kimon H. Sargeant, Richard Flory, Spirit and Power: The Growth and Global Impact of Pentecostalism, OUP USA , USA, 2013, page 190
  10. Warren Bird, World megachurches, leadnet.org, USA, retrieved February 15, 2020
  11. RCCG website page on its beliefs

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